National Central Mosque Takes Shape

The Chief Imam praying over the Alem The National Mosque project at Kawokudi, Accra, was given another feature yesterday when the Islamic symbol – a crescent – was fixed on the dome of the structure.

Four others were fixed on other portions of the structure.

This was done during a working visit to the place by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu.

The ‘Alem’ Arabic word for the crescent, sits on a large dome as four smaller ones are placed at the corners of the structure each sitting on a minaret rising 61 metres.

A member of the Technical Team of the mosque, Resul Yesilyurt, said the building – the biggest in the West African sub-region – measures 33 metres (130ft.) to the topmost point.

The project is privately funded among four Turkish non-governmental organizations, the National Chief Imam and others.

Mr. Resul Yesilyurt said the two-storey building complex has a capacity for a minimum of six thousand worshippers and a maximum of 10,000.

The entire project has room for administration, two blocks for schools, a library and other facilities.

The Chairman of the Concerned Moslem Youth, Alhaji Mohammed Buniyamin Braimah, said the project was started in 1990 but terminated after a while only to be restarted through the intervention of the Turkish organizations.

Alhaji Mohammed, who is also the Secretary for the Council of Zongo Chiefs, added that the project was expected to be completed in June 2015.

The Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Mamah Gado Mohammed, described the project as an edifice with a lot of complex components.

He paid glowing tribute to the National Chief Imam for what he described as ‘his passion to see the project completed.’